Ten years after the legalization of the so-called Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID), euthanasia has become one of the leading causes of death in Canada. More than 100,000 people have died through this procedure since it came into effect in 2016, and the country currently records the highest number of euthanasia deaths in the world.
According to official data from the Canadian government, 16,499 people died through MAID in 2024, the highest annual figure recorded to date. Although authorities maintain that the growth appears to be beginning to stabilize, the number of deaths continues to rise year after year.
The evolution of these figures also coincides with an intense debate on expanding the eligibility criteria for the program and on the safeguards intended to protect the most vulnerable patients.
From legal exception to one of the leading causes of death
The legalization of euthanasia in Canada resulted from a Supreme Court ruling issued in February 2015, which declared the previous ban unconstitutional. After a transitional period, the program fully came into effect on June 16, 2016.
Since then, the number of cases has grown steadily. Between 2019 and 2022, euthanasia deaths increased at a rate exceeding 30% annually, a trend that made Canada the country with the most recorded deaths from this practice.
In April of this year, the figure of 100,000 procedures performed since the law came into effect was officially reached, a statistic that has reignited the debate on the scope the program has acquired a decade after its approval.
Government reports indicate that the majority of deceased patients had a serious medical condition with death considered “reasonably foreseeable.” However, approximately 4.5% of the people who accessed MAID in 2024 did not meet that criterion.
Doubts about controls and safeguards
As cases increase, so do questions about the system’s capacity to ensure compliance with the conditions set out by law.
A report published in 2024 revealed that Ontario’s regulatory bodies had identified more than 400 violations related to the application of euthanasia regulations since 2018. Among the irregularities detected were errors in assessing patient eligibility and deficiencies in mandatory reporting procedures.
According to the same report, none of these infractions resulted in legal action.
Concerns about the system’s operation have even reached organizations that originally supported the legalization of euthanasia. The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, which participated in the legal actions that led to the approval of MAID, called last year for new safeguards to strengthen patient protection.
The controversial expansion to mental illnesses
One of the most controversial aspects of the Canadian model is the possibility of expanding access to euthanasia to people whose only medical condition is a mental illness.
Although the implementation of this measure has been postponed until 2027, the issue continues to occupy a central place in the public debate.
The proposal has raised concerns among medical organizations, disability associations, and international bodies. In 2025, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities formally called on Canada to suspend the planned expansion for patients with mental disorders as their sole eligibility condition.
Various reports have also warned that people with mental illnesses are already represented in significant proportions among those requesting access to the program.
Alberta pushes for new restrictions
In contrast to the expansive trend observed at the federal level, the province of Alberta is currently studying measures aimed at strengthening existing guarantees.
Among the proposals is the explicit protection of the right to conscientious objection for physicians and healthcare professionals, as well as a ban on medical staff proactively suggesting euthanasia as a therapeutic option.
The measures also include specific mechanisms to strengthen the protection of minors and individuals suffering from mental disorders.
A model observed worldwide
In recent months, several legislative projects have encountered resistance in various Western parliaments. Organizations on both sides of the debate frequently cite the Canadian case as an example of the consequences that implementing this type of policy can have.
Ten years after its legalization, Canada has become the world’s leading laboratory for euthanasia. While the number of deaths continues to grow and proposals to expand eligibility criteria persist, concerns are also increasing about the impact these policies may have on the most vulnerable people and about the limits that must be established to protect human life at the end of existence.
Source: EWTN News